Marine Engineering Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The Marine Engineering major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Engineering, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Engineering, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$132,777

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$204,262

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$267,098

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 2.7%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$5,037,506

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
SOC: 17-2121
Occupation: Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
$105,670
8,440
N/A
N/A
Architectural and Engineering Managers
SOC: 11-9041
Occupation: Architectural and Engineering Managers
$167,740
210,340
N/A
N/A
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC: 25-1032
Occupation: Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
$106,120
39,910
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

10.7%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$105,6708,440
2023$100,2709,960
2022$96,9107,450
2021$93,3707,380
2020$95,4408,700

Architectural and Engineering Managers

12.2%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$167,740210,340
2023$165,370207,800
2022$159,920197,180
2021$152,350187,100
2020$149,530195,900

Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary

2.4%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$106,12039,910
2023$106,91038,370
2022$103,55036,010
2021$104,94035,440
2020$103,60038,520

Colleges offering Marine Engineering

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$23k

Earnings

$71k

United States Merchant Marine Academy

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$6k

Earnings

$98k

Drexel University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$43k

Earnings

$78k

Texas A & M University-College Station

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$22k

Earnings

$64k

Maine Maritime Academy

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$22k

Earnings

$103k